Pot found at burned Casa de Oro house

Investigators found 50 marijuana plants growing inside a Casa de Oro house that went up in flames Tuesday morning, and another 100 plants in the garage.

“It was a pretty good haul,” sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Cook said.

Someone flagged down a passing deputy about 9:10 a.m. to report the fire on Campo Road near Agua Dulce Road.

The deputy tried to get into the house to see if anyone was inside, but the door was blocked by a sofa, Cook said. It turned out that no one was inside.

Flames had engulfed the house when Cal Fire and Heartland Fire and Rescue crews got there. Smoke could be seen by motorists on nearby state Route 94. Deputies evacuated a few neighbors’ homes as a precaution.

Firefighters got the blaze largely under control within 20 minutes. The fire started from an illegal electrical connection from the house to a San Diego Gas & Electric Co. power pole, a fire spokesman said.

They were checking for smoldering areas when they discovered the pot-growing operation and a possible booby-trap, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler said. He said they left the house and notified authorities.

Cook said there was a sophisticated system of air ventilation and lights in a back room where 50 plants were growing. The house had security cameras, but no traps, he said.

The sheriff’s bomb-arson team and county Narcotics Task Force took over the investigation. Cook said they got a search warrant for the garage and found another 100 growing pot plants.